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April 15, 2019Florida transfers more children to the adult criminal justice system than any other state. 98% of those minors are transferred by the process of direct file.
Children who commit crimes should be held accountable for their actions in the system designed to work with juveniles - not in the adult system. However, as long as the state of Florida tries children as adults, its application should be limited.
The FCCB indicated support this week for SB 876 (Powell) prior to its passage by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (5-0). The bill addresses areas of concern regarding the direct file process. SB 876:- Repeals mandatory direct file (the circumstances in which a state attorney is required to charge a child in adult court);
- Creates a due process hearing for children to petition the court to try them as juveniles after the state has filed intent to try the child in the adult system; and
- Houses minors in juvenile facilities, rather than adult facilities, pending the court's decision in the due process hearing.